Comparison of Silicone Adhesives in Skin Contact Applications: How Material Properties Influence Performance & Wear

Stephanie Steichen, Technical Service & Development Specialist for Healthcare Materials, Dupont

Abstract: Silicone adhesives are widely used in a variety of medical applications, including wound care dressings, scar care treatments, medical device attachment and in transdermal drug delivery. DuPont has developed several different types of silicone adhesives designed to perform in these varied applications. The primary performance objective for these adhesives is their reliable and secure adhesion to skin. However, the skin is a highly variable substrate that is difficult to fully recreate in a lab. This presentation will explore a variety of alternative and complementary techniques to evaluate these adhesives, including peel adhesion to stainless steel and polycarbonate substrates, tack, penetration testing, rheology and moisture vapor transmission (MVTR).

Biography: Stephanie Steichen joined DuPont’s Healthcare Adhesive group in 2017 (formerly Dow) as a technical service and development specialist. In this role, she supports the LIVEO™ silicone adhesive product portfolio, assisting customers in defining material needs, facilitating material selection, and providing technical direction and support. She is also involved in new product development activities, including product formulation, method development for materials testing, and product performance validation. Prior to joining DuPont, Stephanie received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, where she focused on the development of stimuli-responsive hydrogels for oral drug delivery. Stephanie is currently based in Midland, Michigan, where she enjoys cooking, baking, yoga, listening to way too many podcasts, and spending time with her friends and family.